LOWELL — Hours after a School Committee member said he would fire a teacher if she were found guilty of accusations she assaulted a police officer during a protest on Aug. 31, it was revealed that the charge against her was dropped.

Marisa Shea, a 33-year-old Lowell resident and Daley Middle School history teacher, was charged with assault and battery on a police officer during the Straight Pride Parade in Boston.

The charge against Shea was dropped by prosecutors, according to Lowell Mayor William Samaras.

“The case has been dropped and there are no charges against her,” Samaras said. “(Superintendent Joel Boyd) has a copy of the police report that does not indicate that she was doing some of the things she was accused of.”

Boyd said Monday the district received the police report and he expects to review it and other court documents.

Earlier in the day, before it was revealed that charges had been dropped, School Committee members weighed in on the accusations against Shea, and what actions — if any — should be taken against her.

President of the United Teachers of Lowell Paul Georges said that since the teacher has not been disciplined, “at this point, there’s been no harm done.” He said teachers’ First Amendment rights should be protected.

“Any teacher when they become a teacher doesn’t lose their constitutional right to protest or speak,” Georges said.

School Committee member Jackie Doherty echoed this sentiment. She described Shea as a “dynamic” educator who is passionate about the environment and social justice issues.

“There (are) a lot of positives that I think she has modeled,” Doherty said.

Whether Shea was “overzealous” in her approach is something the district needs to review, Doherty said, mentioning she has seen reports from some media outlets that police may have “overstepped” their use of force at the event. Without facts from officials, she said it’s too early to make a judgement.

Doherty said she hopes to review district policy for teacher conduct, as School Committee member Gerry Nutter suggested last week. She said she would consider changes, but not those that would “squash” freedom of expression or civic engagement.

“A democracy with apathetic citizens is a democracy in decline,” she said.

Nutter said this is one of many policies the district needs to review in coming weeks.

“The way it’s set up it’s at the discretion of the administration and my point is I don’t think we should leave it up to discretion,” Nutter said, explaining this system could lead to allegations of favoritism.

He said district administration, the union, and the School Committee could work together to create a list of charges where an employee would automatically be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.

In many cases, student conduct is better defined than teacher conduct, he argued. For example, the district has a policy for students involved in assault.

Though “everyone has a right to participate in politics and protesting,” an assault accusation crosses a line, he said.

School Committee member Robert Hoey Jr. said he would place Shea on leave.

“I would put her out of work in a minute with pay … and if she’s found guilty I would fire her,” he said.

If she was found not guilty, she could return to work, Hoey said.

Hoey said he previously had a negative run-in with the other Lowell resident charged at the parade, Daniel Tuttle, when Tuttle protested his campaign event. At the parade over Labor Day weekend, Tuttle, 26, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Hoey, a former prison guard at Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Concord, said some people like prison guards and teachers should be held to high standards during their off-work hours.

“Protesting is fine if you’re 10 rows back,” he said.

Hoey later added: “We just have to live by a different code of ethics.”

School Committee member Dominik Lay said he hears both sides and would like to allow the legal process to play out.

“I have faith in the current superintendent team and I believe they will find the best solution,” he said.

Last week, the Lowell Superior Officers Association sent a letter to Boyd expressing “dismay and disappointment” in the teacher’s alleged conduct.

Elizabeth Dobbins is a reporter covering the Lowell School Committee and Lowell city government. She previously worked at the Sentinel & Enterprise in Fitchburg and the Medina Gazette in Ohio. Elizabeth is an Arizona native and graduate of Oberlin College.